Having fewer bees around makes it easier to access the frames and get the wax caps, as well. Bees can get in your way and make the process more difficult.

If you don’t have a beekeeper’s outfit, wear as thick of clothing as you can. Cover your legs with long overalls or long pants, wear a long-sleeve shirt, put on a veiled hat, and remember elbow-length gloves. Keep the mesh away from your face. If the mesh touches your face, you can get stung. You can make your own beekeeper’s suit for cheap using ripstop nylon and a pattern printed out from the internet. [3] X Expert Source David WilliamsProfessional Beekeeper Expert Interview. 13 February 2020.

The smoke from the smoker gives the bees the impression that the hive is on fire, so they begin to feast on the honey as a way to preserve it. Eating a lot of honey makes the bees get drowsy, so they are less likely to bother you as you get the wax caps out of the hive. A hive tool resembles a crowbar.

A bee brush is a small tool designed to remove bees from their honeycombs. If any bees are trapped in the honeycomb, pick them out by hand.

To heat up your knife, place it in boiling water for 30-60 seconds. A capping knife is a long, straight knife used to harvest honey and beeswax. If you don’t have a capping knife, you can use a dull butter knife or a fork.

The wax caps rise to the top of the bucket, while the honey sinks to the bottom.

If you are preparing your beeswax outside, waiting awhile may encourage bees to come find you and the honey.

If you have small debris or insects in the honey, that’s okay. They will filter out as you render the wax.

The debris will stay contained as you melt the wax.

This squeezes out the last of the wax, so you don’t waste any.

You can set a timer and come back to check on the beeswax, or simply let it sit for awhile and check on it periodically. If you’d like, you can leave your pot out to cool overnight and tend to your beeswax in the morning.

There may be small specs of debris remaining in your beeswax. If this is the case, that’s okay! This shows it is authentic and pure. At this point, you can melt down your beeswax to use for things like making candles or chapstick.